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SBA letter to NCGA

The NC School Boards Association requests assistance from the General Assembly to address increasing incivility and disorder occurring at school board meetings regarding COVID-19 mitigation measures. School board meetings have seen disruptions, verbal abuse, and threats that have forced recesses or cancellations of meetings. The Association requests that a provision in recent legislation requiring monthly votes on mask policies be modified to instead require metrics that would trigger reexamination of the policies only if conditions significantly change. This would help reduce division and stress within communities on this issue while still allowing for informed decision making to keep students and staff safe.

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On behalf of school boards across North Carolina, the NC School Boards Associa ti on (NCSBA) respec tf ully requests assistance from the General Assembly to reduce the recent development of incivility and disorder taking place at school board mee ti ngs. A disturbing trend is occurring across the State over COVID-19 mi ti ga ti on measures. There are increasing numbers of disrup ti ons and cases of verbal abuse by protestors. Boards chairs have been forced to recess or adjourn mee ti ngs. There were accusa ti ons of one a tt endee bringing a weapon to a school board mee ti ng. Property has been damaged. School board members and sta ff have received threats. Security has been signi fi cantly increased at board mee ti ngs. Rallies and protests are organized by people who don’t even live in the district. Board members and sta ff fear it’s just a ma tt er of ti me before it escalates to serious violence. A provision in SB 654 (SL 2021-130), K-12 COVID-19 Provisions, which passed both chambers on the third day of school should be modi fi ed to help alleviate the tension. The bill has many posi ti ve and important provisions for LEAs. However, Sec ti on 10, which requires all local boards of educa ti on to vote at least once a month on its mask policy will con ti nue to exacerbate the issues above. It’s been said by legisla ti ve leadership that this provision will create transparency. Unfortunately, it has instead created more division within communi ti es, ignited emo ti ons and addi ti onal stress to what was already a highly fl ammable topic. A top priority statewide this school year was to have students safely return to in-person instruc ti on. Districts successfully fl ipped the script from this ti me last year when most students began the year remotely. NCSBA supports providing the public with the latest numbers each month. However, we ques ti on the requirement to vote on the policy every month if nothing has signi fi cantly changed since the last vote. Therefore, we respec tf ully request that the General Assembly modify the current law to require either local school boards or the State to establish metrics that would trigger a re-examina ti on of the policy. NCSBA would like to work with the General Assembly on this issue. Speaking for local boards, the goal remains to e ff ec ti vely educate our students while making informed decisions to keep those students, their families, and the sta ff safe during this ongoing pandemic. Thank you for your considera ti on. Best Regards, 
 Bruce Bruce Mildwurf 
 Director of Government Rela ti ons 
 NC School Boards Associa ti on